Larkin' and barkin' across the U.S.A.A little history and geography along the way!

Category: Reading Recommendations

(To Say Nothing of the Dog) Jerome K. Jerome “Fox-terriers are born with about four times as much original sin in them as other dogs.” So wrote Jerome K. Jerome, one of my Editor’s favorite authors for road-trip reading, in this charmingly hilarious book. While his description of my noble breed seems just a tad bit exaggerated, Jerome’s tale is… Read more →

America’s Symbols, Landmarks, and Inspiring Words Sheila Keenan (illustrations by Ann Boyajian) Who was the first person to pass through Ellis Island? How did the Liberty Bell get cracked? What does the Statue of Liberty’s crown represent? And just who is Uncle Sam?!? With lively prose and sprightly illustrations, O, Say Can You See? can help you with school reports… Read more →

Paolo Coelho A simple shepherd boy sells his beloved sheep and sets off to seek his destiny in this modern fairy tale by Paolo Coelho. Journeying from the Andalusian hills of Spain to the markets of Tangiers and thence into the heart of the Egyptian desert, the reader joins Santiago in discovering the greatest treasure of all: the magic of… Read more →

John Steinbeck “I’ve lost the flavor and taste and sound of it,” said John Steinbeck. “I’m going to learn about my own country.” And off he set on a several-month trek across the United States in 1960 with his giant poodle Charley, exploring the landscape and conversing with his fellow Americans. At times it seems he discovered as much to… Read more →

Allen Sockabasin (illustrations by Rebekah Raye) What happens when baby Zoo Sap falls off the family sled during his family’s yearly trip to their winter home? Alerted by his cries, the woodland creatures begin gathering around. His father soon returns to find the little fellow snuggling warm and safe inside a glorious pile of furred and feathered animals. The Boy… Read more →

Jon Scieszka (illustrations by Lane Smith) Who knew science could be so funny? A young student sits in class, probably wishing he were outside playing. Suddenly his teacher zaps him with the curse of science verse! Now he hears “the poetry of science” everywhere: a new rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star features a nightmarish black hole, ’Twas the Night… Read more →

The Most Complete Guide of What’s Available at Every Interstate Highway Exit From Coast to Coast “Dry ice two miles south of exit.” “Great BBQ here!” Our worn 2005 edition of The Next Exit is replete with so many personal notes that my travel companions and I have been unable to bring ourselves to upgrade to the latest edition. Whether… Read more →

Brenda Z. Guiberson (illustrations by Megan Lloyd) A Gila woodpecker finds the perfect place to begin a new hotel – a huge saguaro cactus! From daintyowls to buzzing insects, from silent bats to desert songbirds, everyone wants to live in the coolest desert high rise around. This is one of The Boy’s favorite books – and gets a four paws… Read more →

Tails from the road Jeff Selis My People frequently put this book out for weekend guests (along with Hyacinth Bucket’s Book of Etiquette for the Socially Less Fortunate, but I digress). Yet this is more than just a cute, mini coffee table book chronicling one man’s attempt to meet and photograph one dog from every state in the nation. After… Read more →

Where to Stay, What to Do, and How to Do It! Eileen Barish This book’s bright cover – featuring a grinning, gun-slinging hound – caught my eye first. But it was award-winning author Eileen Barish’s detailed entries and extensive resource listings that made me lug her book up to the cash register. In addition to lists of hotels, hiking trails,… Read more →